Lawmaker who called for Israel boycott attacked in London

Reuters

LONDON - An outspoken lawmaker who declared an "Israel-free zone" in a northern English city suffered a suspected broken jaw in an attack believed to be linked to his support for the Palestinians, his party said on Saturday.

George Galloway, who once lauded Saddam Hussein and criticized the 2003 U.S-led invasion that toppled the Iraqi leader, was attacked in west London on Friday night.

"It is thought that the attack is connected to Mr. Galloway's support for the Palestinian cause," the left-wing Respect Party said in a statement.

The outspoken Scot, dubbed "Gorgeous George" by the British media, recently made headlines when he declared Bradford to be an Israel-free zone and urged people to reject all Israeli goods, services and even tourists.

A Respect spokesman said the incident appeared to be connected with Israel because the attacker had been shouting something about the Holocaust.

Police said a 39-year-old man had been arrested and taken to a south London police station where he remained in custody.

Galloway, one of a handful of independent MPs in the Westminster parliament, stunned British politics when he won his West Bradford seat in 2012. The city has a large Muslim minority.